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Homestretch
A runaway boy with nothing finds everything he needs, including a family, in the most unlikely of places--at a racetrack.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 1, 2011
Though short and sweet, this book touches upon domestic abuse, racism, grief, self-identity, and morality.
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January 27, 2020In this plot event, the protagonist is having a hard time getting money and seeing where he is. But the beaners found out were they are, and they call somebody to come pick them up. The beaners finally tell Gas why they came over the border, they told him they have an opportunity for a job and back in their old home, they had nothing and would do anything for money. They said some of their friends would even join gangs just to get some money for there family. So the beaners told Gas what their job is, and they are going to be horseback racing, which is hardly any money unless you’re good, and they're starting out at the very bottom. Gas will have to do everything if he wants to get money because he walked out on his family and friends, so he has no support in this job, nobody even knows who he is.
I recommend this book if you like action and a kid that is trying to turn his life around.
I recommend this book if you like action and a kid that is trying to turn his life around.
March 22, 2018
Picked it up and was finished in less than two hours. Very good story of a teen who feels he has nothing left in his home town after his mom is killed by a cop chasing an illegal immigrant and his father descends into a darkness of alcohol-fueled hatred. There's plenty of 'racist' language here, but it only makes Gaston's situation and gradual change of heart more realistic. Following his physical journey that becomes one of healing and self-discovery, is very satisfying. It's a very good book for teens who need a comfort zone redo in terms of immigrants and misconceptions to read.
June 25, 2020
Not his best. A bit forced at times. Worthwhile, nonetheless.
December 31, 2019
Although I love this book and I love the plot I felt like a big portion was missing from it specially with the character development .
January 31, 2010
Gaston Giambanco, Jr., known as Gas by his family and friends is one of my favorite characters. Gas’ life before his dear mother was killed in a car accident was a happy one even though his dad held so many jobs because of his explosive temper and prejudice. Gas loved the memories of riding horses with his mom and dad at the stables where he worked. As a junior in high school, he was still the smallest in his class but when Gas was on a horses’ back, he didn’t feel the all consuming weight of being short. But life becomes more difficult when his mom dies and takes her love with her while his father’s drinking rages out of control because of his grief and anger at the illegal Mexican responsible for the accident. Gas now becomes the object of his father’s rage. Knowing his father will continue to drink and hit him, Gas takes money from his father and hits the road towards an unknown future. Accepting a ride on a flatbed truck, Gas is just another passenger stowing away with four other “beaners.” Gas has conflicting thoughts and feelings towards beaners because his father has always complained about illegal Mexicans taking his jobs. Arriving in Arkansas, Gas and the other Mexicans get jobs at the Pennington Racetrack. No one knows about Gas’s situation so he weaves lies and gets a job as a hot walker and his boss, Dag, continues Gas’ lies, giving his age as eighteen. But Gas quickly learns that Dag is downright dishonest and uses “milkshakes” on his horses to ensure their wins. When Gas meets Tammie, who rides and takes care of her grandfather’s horses, he is so conflicted about the beaners and Dag that he can’t think straight. When Dag promotes him to jockey, Gas has a washed up jockey, El Diablo, train him to ride. Gas begins to feel at home at the racetrack around the Mexicans, Tammie and her grandfather, but he needs to prove to himself and everyone else he can ride. He has enough heart to do it, but at what price to himself and his horses? Gas is a teen who aches to be part of a family but he also continues to suffer from his father’s lifelong nagging about Mexicans. But it is his mother’s kind heart and her belief in the goodness of others that Gas will need to succeed. Once again, Paul Volponi has written a book that is suspenseful and exciting. He has the power to draw you in and feel Gas’s tragedies and triumphs. Teen readers will totally enjoy this book about acceptance, abuse and the true meaning of family.
February 14, 2010
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
After losing his mother in a tragic accident, Gaston Giambanco, Jr., known as Gas, decides that best thing he can do is leave his drunken, abusive father and head off on his own. He hops on the back of a chicken truck with a bunch of illegal Mexican workers and takes his chances as he heads north.
Growing up in Texas, Gas has been surrounded by illegal workers everyone calls beaners. That didn't seem to matter until his mother was killed in a car accident that involved an illegal behind the wheel. Now, Gas harbors hatred toward them that he can barely hold in check. When he finds himself stuck in the back of a smelly truck with three brothers headed north, he can't believe his rotten luck.
Gas and the Mexican brothers are dropped off in the dead of night at a race track in Arkansas. Maybe he has had just a bit of good luck. His father worked at a race track handling horses, and his mother loved to ride and attempted to pass her interest in horses on to Gas.
The work is dirty and grueling, especially since Gas is at the bottom of the pecking order at the track. He walks the horses after their workouts and does whatever his boss commands. Much to his surprise, he is given the chance to ride as a jockey. Unfortunately, his mount is a horse known for his viciousness and the ride leads to some painful and disappointing performances.
Despite the taunts and even threats from other jockeys, Gas is bound and determined to prove himself. As he pushes to earn himself a name on the race track, he learns other valuable lessons about friendship and family bonds.
Author Paul Volponi heads into different territory with HOMESTRETCH. His usual subjects involve inner-city youth and gritty relationships involving gangs and the city. Even though the setting is different in this new novel, he still presents life at its toughest as young Gas deals with the anger of losing his mother, the additional loss of an uncaring father, and the prejudice he feels toward a minority group he thinks he should hate forever.
After losing his mother in a tragic accident, Gaston Giambanco, Jr., known as Gas, decides that best thing he can do is leave his drunken, abusive father and head off on his own. He hops on the back of a chicken truck with a bunch of illegal Mexican workers and takes his chances as he heads north.
Growing up in Texas, Gas has been surrounded by illegal workers everyone calls beaners. That didn't seem to matter until his mother was killed in a car accident that involved an illegal behind the wheel. Now, Gas harbors hatred toward them that he can barely hold in check. When he finds himself stuck in the back of a smelly truck with three brothers headed north, he can't believe his rotten luck.
Gas and the Mexican brothers are dropped off in the dead of night at a race track in Arkansas. Maybe he has had just a bit of good luck. His father worked at a race track handling horses, and his mother loved to ride and attempted to pass her interest in horses on to Gas.
The work is dirty and grueling, especially since Gas is at the bottom of the pecking order at the track. He walks the horses after their workouts and does whatever his boss commands. Much to his surprise, he is given the chance to ride as a jockey. Unfortunately, his mount is a horse known for his viciousness and the ride leads to some painful and disappointing performances.
Despite the taunts and even threats from other jockeys, Gas is bound and determined to prove himself. As he pushes to earn himself a name on the race track, he learns other valuable lessons about friendship and family bonds.
Author Paul Volponi heads into different territory with HOMESTRETCH. His usual subjects involve inner-city youth and gritty relationships involving gangs and the city. Even though the setting is different in this new novel, he still presents life at its toughest as young Gas deals with the anger of losing his mother, the additional loss of an uncaring father, and the prejudice he feels toward a minority group he thinks he should hate forever.
November 3, 2010
Just in time for the Breeder's Cup, I read this novel set in the horse racing world. Seventeen-year-old Gaston "Gas" Giambanco has learned to hate Mexicans from his abusive bigoted father, who drinks to excess ever since the death of his wife (Gas' mom) in a car accident and takes out his anger and helplessness on his son. So Gas, a short young man with a chip on his shoulder about his stature, runs away, and ends up at a Thoroughbred racetrack, working alongside several "beaners" as he derisively calls the Mexican immigrant workers on the backstretch. And despite his upbringing he learns to respect them, as they first tease him and then come to his defense when he is bullied by an equally hateful Peruvian exercise rider who resents Gas taking over his jockey job. Gas also meets a lovely girl who works for a rival trainer's stable, where the horses are treated better than by Gas's cheating boss. Tensions build up to a climactic race, of course, but not in the way you usually see in racing novels. I really enjoyed this book for the honest look at backstretch life and the ethnic makeup of its workers, and the author's obvious respect for racehorses as athletes, as well as for those who work with them and love them. Plus it's a good coming-of-age son-with-father-issues-to-resolve book.
November 29, 2009
Impressed.
That’s all I have to say about this book. Okay, sure, it won’t get remembered for its writing, which is direct, plain, and has not a bit of extraneous descriptions or fluff, but it packed quite a punch.
There were only 151 pages in all. Quite short, but in it, the author managed to touch on the themes of domestic abuse, racism, grief, the search for one’s own self-identity, and sticking up for what’s morally right. Homestretch touched on the darker side of horse racing, dealing with drugs, and trainers who don’t care about their horses.
Gaston was a great character, easily relatable, and had amazing growth in development. Spanish was used a lot in this book without translation and, to me, it didn’t detract from the story. It gave the conflicts between Gaston and his own prejudices against them more depth.
I can’t believe such a short story can work in a lot of things other novels need 300+ pages to do. Don’t worry, the story has pretty good pace, and it’s not preachy at all. I loved it!
Excellent book.
That’s all I have to say about this book. Okay, sure, it won’t get remembered for its writing, which is direct, plain, and has not a bit of extraneous descriptions or fluff, but it packed quite a punch.
There were only 151 pages in all. Quite short, but in it, the author managed to touch on the themes of domestic abuse, racism, grief, the search for one’s own self-identity, and sticking up for what’s morally right. Homestretch touched on the darker side of horse racing, dealing with drugs, and trainers who don’t care about their horses.
Gaston was a great character, easily relatable, and had amazing growth in development. Spanish was used a lot in this book without translation and, to me, it didn’t detract from the story. It gave the conflicts between Gaston and his own prejudices against them more depth.
I can’t believe such a short story can work in a lot of things other novels need 300+ pages to do. Don’t worry, the story has pretty good pace, and it’s not preachy at all. I loved it!
Excellent book.
October 28, 2009
Gaston Giambanco Jr. grew up listening to his father complain about illegal Mexicans taking his jobs. When Gas’ mother dies in a car accident involving a Mexican in the country illegally, his xenophobia grows. So does his father’s temper and drinking. It finally gets bad enough that Gas runs away, and finds himself riding in the back of a chicken truck with the “beaners” he hates so much.
The other occupants of the truck are on their way to jobs at a racetrack in Arkansas. Gas finds work at the track too, where his small size ends up being an asset, but has a hard time reconciling what he’s been told about Mexicans with the people he lives and works with.
As always, Paul Volponi is a great pick for reluctant readers. This was an incredibly fast read (it took me less than an hour) but the topic is controversial enough to generate book club or classroom discussion about immigration and prejudice.
The other occupants of the truck are on their way to jobs at a racetrack in Arkansas. Gas finds work at the track too, where his small size ends up being an asset, but has a hard time reconciling what he’s been told about Mexicans with the people he lives and works with.
As always, Paul Volponi is a great pick for reluctant readers. This was an incredibly fast read (it took me less than an hour) but the topic is controversial enough to generate book club or classroom discussion about immigration and prejudice.
August 3, 2013
Very different from his other books, this still has appeal, but from a different perspective-- from family and hatred that are still cornerstones of his other books. Gaston's mother is killed in a car accident when an illegal Mexican trying to escape police barrel into her. Gaston's father is not coping well and is drinking more and caring less. Gaston needs to set out on his own and ends up on the backstretch of a racetrack where he can try to find meaning in life, a way to move on from his mother's death while confronting his racism in forming friendships with the Mexican workers.
He does find his purpose, especially once he realizes he is not going to be like his father, who drinks himself to death and leaves Gaston essentially orphaned. But by this point, Gaston has gained courage to move forward and achieve a greater purpose.
Encouraging but with a darkness that is worth exploring.
He does find his purpose, especially once he realizes he is not going to be like his father, who drinks himself to death and leaves Gaston essentially orphaned. But by this point, Gaston has gained courage to move forward and achieve a greater purpose.
Encouraging but with a darkness that is worth exploring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2011
This was a simple, small book. Although I think it had more meaning in it than all the pages. Valponi fits a lot of diffrent sub-plots into his stories, so you never REALLY know what's gonna happen. That's what I like about his books. It is a great read for waiting. It keeps you intrested but its not a "edge of your seat" type book either. Like with a lot of Valponi's books I wish they were longer and had MORE in them, but it leaves you satisfied. Its quickly paced so there's not much room for emotion. What this book really does is make you think AFTER you read the book. Overall a good read that I'd reccomend. :)
May 22, 2012
Gaston (Gas) Giambanco's mom died in a car accident when an immigrant from Mexico with no paperwork was trying to escape the immigration police. Gas is grief-stricken. His dad is, too, and he tries to console himself through alcohol. While drunk , he goes into rages and beats on Gas. After one beating too many, Gas runs away and ends up working in a racing stable with many, many Mexicans.
Good story for getting perspective on stereotypes. Also good for reluctant readers due to almost constant action and uncertainty about what will happen next.
Good story for getting perspective on stereotypes. Also good for reluctant readers due to almost constant action and uncertainty about what will happen next.
June 16, 2010
Death of a mother in a tragic car accident driven by an illegal Mexican in Texas; A father who drinks and is abusive to Gas; Gas can't take it any longer so he leaves and ends up working at a racetrack in Arkansas with 3 other Mexican guys; Gas has to work hard and is exposed to some horrible illegal racing techniques.
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June 7, 2015There is pain and triumph in this powerful novel by the king of urban fiction. Read this and think about who are the mentors/role models in your life, what inner strengths you can draw upon, and what prejudices you need to let go of!
October 13, 2009
A runaway boy prejudiced against Mexicans finds a home at a racetrack, and help from the very people he blames for his mother's death. For older teen readers.
December 7, 2009
Ah it's hard to grow up and decide who you really want to be.
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October 16, 2015The book shows me a lot of lessons.
April 5, 2016
Gaston runs from a bad home life into the horse racing circuit where he finds acceptance.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews